Monk's Hill, which may also be called Mounts Hill, lies on the easterly border
of the town of Kingston, close to the Plymouth line. It is 312 feet high, and
is one of the highest points of land in this part of the state, Cobb's Hill
in Bridgewater being only a few feet higher. During the wars with England, this
was one of the beacon hills on which signal fires were burned to spread information
or give warning as to the approach of the enemy. Beacon Hill in Boston was one
of the chain of signal points in the early days.

These beacons were used to spread the word inland of the appearance off the
coast of a strange vessel and as a means of call for the Minute Men, the volunteers
who were ready to gather at the signal at designated points such as the forts,
or the wharves where ships of war or privateers lay ready to start out in defense.
On the highest points of land available, beacons were arranged, piles of rock
or iron fire-baskets in which fires were laid, ready to be set off when the
time came. Men were on watch day and night. If a strange craft appeared off
the Cape, a quick signal on Scargo Hill told the watch on the Pine Hills (Manomet
Hills); that fire was quickly set off and Monk's Hill in Kingston and probably
a beacon on one of the hills in Marshfield, passed on the warning to more inland
towns; Bridgewater, Middleboro, Scituate, the Blue Hills and others also passed
the word along. Many of the old-time beacon hills are used today as fire observation
towers.

Monk's Hill should rightly be called by its original name, Mounts Hill. That
name appears in the records of the Old Colony as early as 1637 when John Derby
(pronounced Darby) was granted a lot of land near Mounts Hill. Mounts Hill,
Mounts Hill Playne, and Darby's Pond (present Darby Pond) are mentioned in the
records. Mr. William T. Davis said there is an association with Monts Hill Chace
in England, a hunting ground, and it seems to be that our records, referring
to the Mounts Hill Plain, but it cannot be confirmed.